God, I Love Vodka

Not only is my favorite alcohol used for hair of the dog, but for cleaning too!!! I hate using chemicals in my home...those toxic smells always linger. Plus, I always seem to have a bottle of Monopolowa just chillin in my freezer.

Here's a list of rad cleaning tips using VODKA via Apartment Therapy.

1.Keep Aphids off houseplants. Wash off houseplants with tap water then dab the leaves with a cotton ball dipped in vodka. Do not use alcohol on delicate plants like African Violets.

2.Shine chrome, glass and porcelain bathroom fixtures. Soak a soft, clean cloth with vodka and shine.

3.Remove hairspray from mirrors. Soak a soft, clean cloth with vodka and wipe mirrors clean.

4.Clean crystal and porcelain ornaments.

5.Clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers by filling a spray bottle with vodka, then spraying the caulking. Wait 5 minutes, then wash clean. Bonus: the alcohol in the vodka actually kills mold and mildew.

6.Clean a chandelier right where it hangs! Spray the chandelier with a solution of four teaspoons of vodka to one pint of water. Put down a cloth or plastic sheet to catch the drips.

7.Remove stains by rubbing with a clean cloth soaked in vodka. Rinse thoroughly.

8.Clean jewelry and cutlery. Soak it in vodka for five minutes, rinse and dry.

9.Remove the glue left behind by stickers and labels. Rub the glue with a soft, clean cloth soaked in vodka.

10.Use it to kill bees and wasps.

11.To get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke, mix one part vodka to three parts water, spray and let dry.

12.Clean tiles in the bathroom by spraying with vodka. Leave it on for 5 minutes and rinse. Great for getting rid of soap scum.

Ahhh...Seaplane, you can fly over my ocean any day

At left are pieces from Holly Stalder's Spring 2008 line. I love the rich fabrics and modern shapes. Layers are still very in, eh? Just new and ever changing forms of layers. Stalder is a local Portland designer that is finding true design beauty in salvaged fabrics and trimmings. I discovered her designs through local independent design collective, Seaplane on NW 23rd. This store in itself calls to me with it's minimalist interior design, natural window displays and dressing room curtains made from layers of white vintage fabrics.

Seaplane design tip: Imperfectly paint vintage frames with white paint and hang them (empty) in a nice arrangement. Now, place nails into the wall space inside the frames and hang your jewelry on the nails. This would be so cute around a vanity. Instant art.

OTHER SEAPLANE (AND LOCAL) INSPIRATIONS:
http://www.lovinganvil.com

http://katetowers.com

http://www.abrokenspoke.com

http:// www.prairieunderground.com

...more to come.

ROAD TRIP & G(reen) Book Tip O' The Day

It's 2:30 AM and i really need to go to bed, but I am so excited for tomorrow. YEAH beach trips! Colin (my love) and I are heading west towards Seaside and Cannon Beach. Yeah for rolling up my jeans, soaking my toes and hunting for seashells and antiques.

It's supposed to be 50 degrees and no rain...for me, a perfect beach day. I do need to fill my tires up for the trip though. I recently learned (Green Book) that my car will get way better gas mileage if the tires are kept well inflated and I, umm, drive slower. GOOD TO KNOW!!! But wait, aren't I just burning the same amount of gas? I'm driving the same distance whether I go faster or slower, so aren't I just burning the same amount of gas in less time? Who's got an answer!!!???

Neutral, Natural, Modern

Neutral, Natural, Modern...my style mantra. As long as 2 of the 3 are encompassed in something I am thinking about purcahsing for my home, then it's a go. This item however was a find, it encompasses all three!!! This Jewelry stand was $26 at Urban Outfitters and is painted white metal (there is also a bronze version). It is absolutely perfect for holding all of my baubles.

NOTE: RECYCLE YOUR JEWELRY!!!! Pass it on to loved ones. Many of my necklaces and bracelets are gifts from my mother's jewelry chest. The red beads (right), thick gold bangle (center), cobalt ceramic large beaded necklace(left) were purchased when she worked at a store in Eugene, OR in the 80's!!! The store, Folk Ways, is still around and is a wonderful place when shopping for wordly finds. The owners shop for all of the wonderful items on their journeys around the world.

THE G(reen) BOOK TIP O' THE DAY

Duh...

"RECYCLE. If everyone in America simply seperated the paper, plastic, glass and aluminum products from the trash and tossed them into a recycling bin, we could decrease the amount of waste sent to landfills by 75 percent. Currently, it takes an area the size of Pennsylvania to dump all our waste each year."